49ers offer no further comment on Ray McDonald's status

SANTA CLARA -- Defensive tackle Ray McDonald's status with the 49ers remains unclear after his arrest early Sunday morning for suspicion of felony domestic violence at his San Jose home.

Coach Jim Harbaugh is expected to comment Tuesday morning on his KNBR 680-AM segment. He's not scheduled to address the rest of the media until a Wednesday news conference.

The 49ers had no media access Monday and offered no further comment beyond Sunday's statement from general manager Trent Baalke, who said the team takes "such matters seriously" and will "continue to gather the facts."

The San Jose Police Department said Monday it will not release the 911 call -- apparently from McDonald's fiancee -- that led to officers' 2:48 a.m. arrival at his home. San Jose police Sgt. Heather Randol said in an email: "Only the victim or victim's representative is entitled to the tape." Police are expected to provide a synopsis of the case Tuesday.

According to police-dispatch audio, obtained by ABC7 News, the unnamed victim claimed McDonald was "hitting her" and "was trying to pull her out of the house. She's 10 weeks pregnant and refusing medical."

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If McDonald, an eighth-year veteran, is barred from playing Sunday's season opener at Dallas, third-year lineman Tony Jerod-Eddie likely would start at left defensive tackle, as was the case in three of four exhibitions last month while McDonald recovered from a hamstring strain. Jerod-Eddie started two games last year in place of McDonald, who had ankle and biceps injuries.

Quarterbacks Colin Kaepernick and Tony Romo are poised for quite a duel in Sunday's season opener between the 49ers and host Dallas Cowboys, at least judging from Cowboys coach Jason Garrett's positive comments Monday.

Romo, 34, is coming off back surgery Dec. 27 for a herniated disk. "He's really looked like himself to me," Garrett said in Monday's news conference at the Cowboys facility. "He's got that look on his face. He's got confidence about his body being where it needs to be."

Kaepernick's dual-threat ability has impressed Garrett. "So much of what they've been able to accomplish offensively comes from his ability to throw it and his ability to make plays with his feet when things break down," Garrett said.

Right guard Alex Boone passed his physical Monday, a day after agreeing to a restricted contract that ended his offseason-long holdout. The 49ers asked the league for a roster exemption before making a corresponding personnel move.

Two days after getting cut by the 49ers, safety C.J. Spillman signed and promptly practiced with the Cowboys. Spillman spent most of the past four seasons with the 49ers as a special-teams ace, arriving in October 2010 off waivers from the San Diego Chargers.

Garrett called it a coincidence that the Cowboys acquired a player who came from their Week 1 opponent.

Cornerback Darryl Morris, also cut by the 49ers on Saturday, was signed by the Houston Texans.

The 10-man practice squad was filled out by cornerback Chance Casey, offensive tackle John Fullington and running back Kendall Gaskins. Casey spent last season on the Raiders' practice squad. Fullington was cut Saturday by the Green Bay Packers, Gaskins by the New York Giants.